Notizie

Japanese social drama “Shoplifters” was named best film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards on Thursday. Directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu, the film previously won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

“’Shoplifters’ turns an intimate story about an unusual family into a metaphorical social analysis that is relevant not only for Japan, but everywhere,” said “Leviathan” producer Alexander Rodnyansky, who headed the main prize jury.

The Jury Grand Prize, or second place award, went to “Burning,” by South Korea’s Lee Chang-dong. The best director prize went to Nadine Labaki for “Capernaum” (Lebanon).

The prizes were presented at a ceremony at the Exhibition & Convention Centre in Brisbane, Australia. Winners each receive a stunning glass ornament made by Brisbane artist Joanna Bone.

Those treading the red carpet included Mpa chief Charles Rivkin, popular Australian actor Jack Thompson, British filmmaker and educationalist David Puttnam, Singaporean director Anthony Chen,...

Turkish drama The Pigeon took home the Palmera de Oro (Golden Palm Tree) along with a €25,000 prize at Valencia's La Mostra.

The film, from debut director Banu Sivaci, was praised by the jury for its capacity to "extract visual and aural poetry from a hostile environment where the main character has to fight to preserve his individual liberty".

The film also won the Best Actor award for Kemal Burak Alper, who plays Yusuf, a young man whose pigeons help him cope with his tough life, Best Cinematographer for Arda Yildrian, Best Music, for Canset Özge Can and Best Screenplay for Sivaci.

The Silver Palm Tree went to Secret Ingredient, a dad and son charmer - the first Greek-Macedonian production - which was praised for its combination of humour and drama.

French film Paper Flags, directed by 19-year-old Nathan Ambrosioni, won the Bronze...

L'enkas Photo: Sarah Marx

This year's Mostra de Valencia - Cinema De Mediterrani - which runs from October 18 to 28 - will see 11 films compete in its official section as it returns from a six-year hiatus.

The festival has a focus on films from Mediterranean countries and all the films will be Spanish premieres. Those in competition include Sarah Marx's debut fiction feature L'Enkas, about a young ex-con desperate to make quick cash to help his mother and Amr Salama's Sheikh Jackson - Egypt's nomination for this year's foreign language Oscar - a drama about a cleric who has a crisis of faith when he discovers his idol Michael Jackson has died.

Other countries represented include Tunisia (Selma Balcar's El Jaida and Nace Khemir's Whispering Sands), Italy (Marco Tullio Giordana's Nome Di Donna), Turkey (Banu Sivaci's The Pigeon) and Lebanon (Lucien Bourjiely's Heaven Without People).

New artistic director Eduardo Guillot said: "This.

Turkish film festival celebrated 25th edition this year.

Directorial duo Cagla Zencirci and Guillaume Giovanetti’s drama Sibel and Tolga Karacelik’s quirky road movie Butterflies were among the top winners at the Adana International Film Festival (Sept 22-30) over the weekend.

Sibel – revolving around an ostracised, mute young woman living in a mountain village whose life is transformed when she helps an injured fugitive in hiding - won the festival’s Golden Boll for best film in the national competition focused on Turkish cinema.

Damla Sönmez won best actress for her performance as the titular Sibel, while Emin Gürsoy...

Sofia Film Festival winners also announced.

Dublin-based Italian writer-director Nathalie Biancheri’s second feature film project Wolf was awarded the Danny Lerner Grand Prix for best international project at the 15th edition of the Sofia Meetings co-production market this weekend.

The Nu Boyana Film Studios’ CEO Yariv Lerner handed over a prize of €50,000 in services and a cheque for €5,000 to Biancheri and her producer Jessie Fisk for what the director describes as “a high concept, absurdist arthouse drama”.

Budgeted at €1.2m, Wolf is set to be the first project to go into production by Fisk’s production company Feline Films.